Arsenal_AM_Episode17_Dads Arsenal Origin story

Its been a slow news day so I delve into my dads Arsenal Origin story.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:20

Good morning. It's Friday, so not too much news came out since yesterday. I was in UEFA releasing a very clarifying statement saying the number 17 didn't commit a foul, so therefore it wasn't a penalty. Um yeah, I don't know what my eyes saw, but um clearly UEFA have better vision than anybody else. Oh poor old UEFA. They don't have the referees today. I've nothing to say. Or what was the uh Josie line? I prefer not to speak. I wish some of the UEFA officials would not speak at times, especially those on VAR and ruining the game. Anyhow, um other other news uh going about, um not too much in the way of Arsenal news. Today the there's a bit of news out of Fulham that Sassin Young is going to join Iwobi and Kevin uh out of the game on Saturday, apparently, so that's uh useful. And I'm seeing that Timber may be back in a week or two, but nothing coming out of Arsenal. Just peep people who kind of seem to know the injuries, but potentially with no knowledge of the situation. So in other words, there's no news today. And with the lack of news, um I'm gonna take the opportunity to delve into my father's Argent story. So um with that, welcome back, Dad.

SPEAKER_00 2:04

Thank you very much, son.

SPEAKER_01 2:07

He's going home soon, so don't worry about it.

SPEAKER_00 2:09

And I'll be delighted.

SPEAKER_01 2:11

Um the so how did the Arsenal story start for you?

SPEAKER_00 2:16

Well the Arsenal story started in sort of nineteen sixty-seven when I was about nine, going on ten. My elder sister Mary uh came to England to study nursing, and she sent home at the time all kits were being produced by a company called Disney. So you had the ninety-two teams in the English league, and she sent over a big brochure and you had you could choose anything you liked. So I was looking at the kids. I liked the Arsenal colours, I liked the g the cannon, and I thought that'll do.

SPEAKER_01 3:03

Thank God, because uh if there was ninety-two other teams we could have supported anybody.

SPEAKER_00 3:08

We could have been it could have been anybody at all, even in the fourth division, and I wouldn't have known.

SPEAKER_01 3:15

Well, sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you're spared.

SPEAKER_00 3:20

Ha ha ha Yes, that could have been very dangerous to support that other team that you just mentioned. So I selected Arsenal and I got the Arsenal kit and I became an Arsenal follower. And at that time, the magazine that used to be going with shoot and a couple of other things like that, so um used to get pictures and post them on the on a on a wall up going up the stairs. And my first success came when Arsenal beat Leeds in 1971. First part of the double. And that was actually on goal average. They won by a point or two in the end, but it was could have come down to goal average, not goal difference as it is today. And then Charlie George scored the winner at Wembley after what was a hectic game to see Arson win the double. And did you get to watch that live? Did I get to watch that game live? Yeah. Yeah, it was on TV.

SPEAKER_01 4:40

Okay, because uh I was I wasn't sure how much we we'd have seen in Ireland of live TV at the time.

SPEAKER_00 4:47

Yeah, no, it was um on a Saturday afternoon, um live TV, and it was probably one of the few games that were shown on live TV. I also remember Man United beating somebody in the European Cup final where Best and Charlton and a couple of others went wild with scoring, and Nobby Styles tapping his head the his head to the referee, but yeah.

SPEAKER_01 5:18

There's about five years of difference between those two. Yeah. Um so I know six three years because it's 68 or something, I don't know. But um no, so that was that was your first real, I suppose, being delved into Arsenal and then getting your first success. Uh for any Spurs fans who might listen, success is what you have without just getting lucky, you actually earn it. Um it's not just kind of losing to Man City to deny a quality club uh a league title or anything like that. But again, you'll you'll figure that out in the championship next season.

SPEAKER_00 5:59

Wow, with any bit of luck.

SPEAKER_01 6:02

Um the so then you moved to the to England, so you got to go and see a few games over the years. So what was your first game?

SPEAKER_00 6:14

My first game was an actual away game in Liverpool at Anfield. Um Arson were playing Liverpool in the League Cup. At that time, Arsenal centre forward was a chap by the name of Malcolm MacDonald, and one of the Liverpool fullbacks was a chap by the name of Tommy Smith. Unfortunately that night Arson lost 2-1, but Arsenal did score first, and uh Malcolm MacDonald turned round and gave the finger to um Tommy Smith, and Tommy Smith just pulled his finger across his neck, and it was a great game as far as tackles that were unbelievably hard in today's world, they a football world anyway, they wouldn't have lasted on the pitch for ten minutes.

SPEAKER_01 7:10

So if it's fair to say you've seen a a lot of transition in the game from then to now.

SPEAKER_00 7:16

Oh yeah. I mean, at at that time, you know, you had Frank Paslentock as um the Arsenal captain. I then went to Highbury and were, you know, at the you pay at the turnstiles. I think it was about three quid, although I think that might have been more expensive at the or more expensive than what um what it was. Um but you just turned up, paid your money, and away you go.

SPEAKER_01 7:44

Yes. A bit different than the uh ballot these days.

SPEAKER_00 7:48

Ballot?

SPEAKER_01 7:49

What's that? Um so what was your first I suppose what are your major memories of Hyper over the years?

SPEAKER_00 7:59

And the one of the major memories was actually seeing Chelsea being relegated. From I was at at that game, and um there's this little story attached to that as well, is that um the it was a police court and very near the north bank and nobody went and stood near them. So I was there on my own and um I wasn't too about I was about ten foot away from the nearest policeman, and I was leaning on one of the crash barriers. Um and everybody else was a good twenty foot away. So I had a fantastic view from the north bank all the way up to the clock end. And in front of me there was a father and a red-headed son. And didn't take any notice of him until about a week later I'm doing a parent teacher's evening, and I'm sitting next opposite this guy, uh, telling that his son was, you know, quite good at maths and he was a relatively good student. And then when we finished our bits, I said to him, I got a funny feeling I know you. He said, You know, you look very familiar to me as well. So we're chatting, and then eventually I just said to him, You weren't at Highbury about two weeks ago? And he said, Ah, yes I was. So, um and his son actually did go on to play with West Ham.

SPEAKER_01 9:40

Okay, so you know, it's small small world, um, so it's it's kind of interesting. Uh you do have a history with an Irish international?

SPEAKER_00 9:52

Yes, a fellow by the name of Phil Babb. His mother was from Cork, his father was Jamaican, and I used to teach him in Clapham, Clapham College. Um he was year seven when I first came across him. Um and the guy, the redhead that I was talking about, Darren Tracy, he actually played with um West Ham, as I said, the two of them on a Saturday morning when they played football, part of their their little party piece when they were a little bit sort of years eight and nine, which that's in today's terminology age-wise, would it be twelve, thirteen, maybe going on through fourteen, they would try and score from the halfway line at kickoff.

SPEAKER_01 10:44

So kind of max max down Dalman's age, whereas he just runs a bitch.

SPEAKER_00 10:49

Yeah. Yeah. I mean uh Robert Philbab um he actually went on was playing for Millwall. He was basically a Millwall reserve. Um and he was thinking about maybe changing uh careers when Coventry were looking for a centre half and he went there as a substitute centre half. And because he moved up a league, the style of play suited him better, and then he got spotted by Liverpool and taken over by them.

SPEAKER_01 11:32

Unfortunately, probably the main uh memory most people have of Phil Bab is him crashing into the post.

SPEAKER_00 11:38

Well, that's true. He actually I on some sor on some days I actually took you into school and I wouldn't see you from the time we entered school till the time I picked you up to take you home, and you were looked after by the lads, and he was one of the lads that looked after you.

SPEAKER_01 11:53

And I can tell you I got very little, if any, of the uh footballing ability. Sadly. No, it didn't get past that you did it. No, no, there was uh no osmosis or anything along those lines, but uh you know, otherwise I I'd be trying to play play this play the ball rather than talk about it. Um but uh yeah, so that's um of the your arsenal memories, I suppose, what stands out to you?

SPEAKER_00 12:21

Um it was a Europe one of the ones that comes out was a European match. I was there with a couple of friends, um one of them was a fellow by the name Niall Whelan, and it was probably about the 89th minute, 90th minute, and we were actually going home, going out of the competition, especially in the Wail Way Goals rule at that time, when a chap by the name of Willie Young, who was not a renowned, no, he was not a cultured footballer. You know, he was basically a solid centre half where either the ball went past, the man went past, but the two of them didn't. And it was on the last sort of minute when for some some reason the ball was cleared out to him and he just put a foot through it and it ended up in the corner of the net. At that time I was standing up ready to leave the Highbury Stadium and it was such a surprise. Yeah, it's always good.

SPEAKER_01 13:37

I I was kind of referencing in my own R Arger story that um we were at the Arsenal Norwege game that uh Lee Dixon scored two goals in as for when Dave O'Leary uh pass surpassed the record appearance against Norwich, and uh that went down to the the last minute where Dicko had a penalty saved and he scored the rebound and the place went mental having been 2-0 down and 3-2 down. So those last minute moments are pretty uh pretty epic.

SPEAKER_00 14:11

Well, yeah, I mean they did it quite a lot at that stage because uh at that time they tended to do the pasta diet the night before, which basically meant that while other teams were running out of energy in the last 15 minutes or something were coming on strong.

SPEAKER_01 14:31

Well, you know, we probably need that in the next uh few few uh few weeks, but maybe science has moved on slightly.

SPEAKER_00 14:38

Yes, indeed. Um but I remember taking you to a Crystal Palace game against Arson at Highbury with two of your palace supporters, Jeff and Phil. And Steve Coppel was walking down the line, and I said to the two lads, I said, give him a shout, he'll probably come over. And oh no, no, no, and you shouted out, Hoy Coppel. And he stopped and looked over and came came over and chatted to you for a couple of minutes.

SPEAKER_01 15:12

Yeah, I I remember the two boys being being shy, so I was like, I've got to do this. You know, so uh yeah, it was interesting. Then I think we proceeded to beat beat Palace 4-1, which was nice.

SPEAKER_00 15:24

Yeah. And another time they arsenal were getting vocal against the referee calling them choice names. And you said to me, What are they saying, Dad? And I said, Oh, I think they're saying the referee is a cheat. And he says, No, actually, I said, I'm not sure. You and you turned round to me and said, I think they're took calling them a cheat. Instead of that, they were calling them a W something.

SPEAKER_01 15:46

Yeah, um a far more innocent time. I probably wouldn't uh uh associate with the cheat now either. But um yeah. In terms of the footballing evolution, what do you think we've lost that we you'd you'd like to see back, and what do you think we've gained over the over the time of being a supporter?

SPEAKER_00 16:14

Um my my times in Arsenal have changed from you know sort of the the old hard team to the very culture team. We I mean I remember going to Highbury and watching Brady and Ricks and Sunderland and David O'Leary, Adams, you know, sort of different style of players at that time. Um we've we've lost we've we've in the Arteta era we've actually recovered some of the strength of the back, like they had on the winger with the Adams Coon, and you know, it was very strong defensively, and the knowledge that you can score as many as you like, but if you can't stop people scoring, you're not necessarily in a hunt for a title or for a cup. And the Arsenal teams, you know, under various people, from Graham to Bertie Mee, I mean, um were all backed by a chap by the name of Don Howe. And he was a very, very he was not a great manager, but he was a fantastic coach. And he was able to get teams to play a bit like you know, Wenger did, but he used Pat Rice as his hard man. I mean, at one stage I remember looking at the Arsenal team and thinking this is a United Ireland team. When you had Jennings and goal, you had um Rice and McNabb at full backs, you had O'Leary in the centre, you had Stapleton up front, you had Brady in the middle, and there was somebody else I can't remember, but effectively you had an almost full Irish team.

SPEAKER_01 17:58

You probably had Stapleton at the time.

SPEAKER_00 18:00

Yeah, yeah, Stapleton was there. And he was amazing in that he'd jump and he'd look like he was floating in the air, he just stayed up longer than anybody else.

SPEAKER_01 18:10

Yeah, um I I did hear a couple couple of those lads uh be be asked about that um more recent times, like no, no, there was always a difference between the uh the Northern Irish lads and the uh Republic lads. Um that they got on, but they were sure that they weren't being oh we're not United Ireland within the sentiment.

SPEAKER_00 18:35

I mean Nal Quinn used to go and drink in the local pub, and you could pop in there, and he was quite a nice guy to chat with.

SPEAKER_01 18:43

Yeah, yeah. Well, hopefully we get to chat with him at some stage on on this. Yeah, a good idea. Yeah, he's got uh he's got a few few few store stories about uh the bank of friendship. So before we finish up, we've got a few few games to go this season. How do you think it's gonna play out?

SPEAKER_00 19:06

Well, I think if we're consistent at winning, um we stand a great chance, but I would like to see the shackles taken off the front four or five players because we do need to score a few more goals. Personally, I think City will falter. Um and the fact that Palace won tonight against Shakter Denesk 3-1 gives them a great chance of qualifying for the final, which is a couple of days after our final game, which is against Palace.

SPEAKER_01 19:42

Yeah, so with with a bit of luck, they'll uh be resting their team, and they can put out um I they're under 14s, I think might be.

SPEAKER_00 19:50

Well, that would that would be absolutely brilliant. You know, um they could even put out the women's team, I think we wouldn't mind about that.

SPEAKER_01 19:57

Well, you know, I think uh that's not permitted, but you know, the the few few few of the reserves and the the reserve reserves, and we'll we'll take that. Um so yeah, and I I think have a similar sentiment. In terms of Europe, do you see us getting to the final and who would you prefer to play?

SPEAKER_00 20:21

Um I think we've got a well we were relatively in control against Atletico. We weren't we uh weren't that troubled by them. However, the if they can if we score early, then they will have to change their tack, and that might open it up for us. I think we'll get through. It'll be a tight game. As for who we would play, I think we would probably come off better against Barnes than against PSG. Because I think PSG have they play a very open fluid type of football where Barnes would be less fluid, you know, than although Elise and Kane now um I wouldn't like to see Kane playing in that game because he does have a tendency to score against us.

SPEAKER_01 21:15

I do have that dark, dark place in my head that basically says Kane scores a penalty in the final and we lose. Um I don't think I w I could handle that. Um because even if it meant Spurs were in the championship, they'd feel like that they'd won the Champions League, which they haven't and won't. But just so you know, Spurs, you haven't, you won't.

SPEAKER_00 21:43

Yep. I mean you did well to qualify for this year through um winning a trophy or being given a trophy. But yeah, championship football looks good for you. Champions League looks like it could be. And all things considered, I think the probability that um we will win the premiership as well.

SPEAKER_01 22:08

Yeah, I I think we have been the best team. We've probably run out a bit of steam lately, but you know, with effective management of resources we should be able to get across the line.

SPEAKER_00 22:21

I think in the last four or five games that they played, they just sort of it was a case of they played not to lose, which is a very dangerous thing to do. You have to go out and play to win.

SPEAKER_01 22:35

Yeah, it's def definitely a difference in mentality and approach. But um you know, I I often wonder about the what happens inside the bubble versus what we get from outside the bubble.

SPEAKER_00 22:52

Yeah, I mean that's the difficult bit. I mean, as a as a team they look united, but within that team, there's none of them that other than Bryce, there's none of them that have won big trophies. And that can be a stumbling block is to say, are we good enough? Now they've they've been knocking on the door for a couple of years, and I think this is their chance to kick it open.

SPEAKER_01 23:16

Yeah, well, we'll find out in the next couple of days. Uh thank you for your time, and uh we'll talk to you tomorrow.

SPEAKER_00 23:24

You've got my time because you're putting up with me.

unknown 23:27

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_01 23:49

If you want to get in touch with the show, you can get me on Instagram at Arsenal underscore am underscore pod, and you can get me on bsky at freddylj.bsky.social.